Turns, lanes, passing and parking
You park facing uphill on a street that has a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
- Away from the curb, toward the center of the road, and let the vehicle roll back gently until the wheel touches the curb. Correct answer
- Toward the curb.
- Straight ahead; the parking brake alone is enough.
Why
Your wheels are the backup in case the parking brake fails. Facing uphill with a curb, you turn the front wheels away from the curb and let the vehicle roll back a few inches so the tire rests against the curb; if the vehicle rolls, the curb stops it. Facing downhill, the logic reverses: turn the wheels toward the curb so it catches the front of the tire. With no curb at all, point the wheels right whichever way you are facing, so the vehicle would roll away from the center of the road instead of into traffic. Pointing the wheels straight ahead does nothing if the brake gives way. Whatever the slope, set the parking brake and leave it in park, or in gear on a manual.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is Away from the curb, toward the center of the road, and let the vehicle roll back gently until the wheel touches the curb.
The rule behind this one
Turns, lanes, passing and parking in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on turns, lanes, passing and parking
- On a city street, how far before you turn should you begin signaling?
- When may you turn left at a red light in California?
- You want to pass a slow vehicle on a two-lane road. Within what distance of an intersection, bridge, tunnel, or railroad crossing is passing NOT allowed?
- In which situation may you pass another vehicle on its right?